Crust breaker



Oct. 15, 1963 M. WORMAN ETAL 3,106,875

CRUST BREAKER .Filed Feb. 23, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS MART/NWORMAN JOHN W ADAMS THEIR ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1963 M. WOMAN ETAL CRUSTBREAKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1961 INVENTOI'QS MART/N WORM/INJOHN W ADAMS BY g THEIR AT ORNEY Oct. 15, 1963 M- WORMAN ETAL CRUSTBREAKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 25, 1961 INVENTORS MART/N WORM/1NJOHN W ADAMS BY KW THEIR ATTORNEY M. WORMAN ETAL Oct. 15, 1963 CRUSTBREAKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 25, 1961 INVENTORS BY KW THEIRATTORNEY MART/N WORM/1N JOHN W ADAMS United States Patent 3,106,875CRUST BREAKER Martin Worrnan and John W. Adams, Phiilipsburg, NJ,assignors to Kngerscll-Rand Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation ofNew Jersey Filed Feb. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 91,0% '7 Claims. (til. 9211)This invention relates to mountings for pneumatic drills.

The invention herein described has to do with a mounting, namely for adrill to be readily movable about where the operation is intermittentand at short intervals. A particular use for which this mounting isespecially adapted is that of drilling or breaking a crust which formsin the process of producing metallic aluminum. Such a process iselectrolytic and comprises the melting of aluminum oxide in a large potwithin which is centrally located an electrode and charged with theoxide, broken down electrolytically and heated. In the course of theprocess the metallic aluminum is drawn off from the pot and theimpurities rise forming a crust at the top which has to be bnoken up topermit the introduction of additional material to be refined. Breakingup of the crust is performed by a suitable punching apparatus which inthis case is a pneumatic drill so mounted that it can be guided fromplace to place easily and advanced and retracted at will.

An object of this invention is to provide a mounting which will besuitable for uses of this sort. Inasmuch as the wear and tear on such adrill is considerable a further object is to provide a mounting easilytaken apart for repair.

The manner in which these objects are accomplished and further objectsand advantages of the invention will be in part pointed out and in partobvious from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the drill and its mounting embodyingthe invention,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the feed cylinder and part of thecontrol handle therefor,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a part of thecontnol handle at the end at which it is attached to the feed cylinderand drill guide,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the drill guide,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the end of the control handle at whichit is held by the operator,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connecting rod removed from the feedcylinder,

FIG. 7 is a view of the carriage on which the drill is mounted andslidable in the drill guide, and

FIG. 8 is an end view of the drill carriage looking from the right handof FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawing, the pneumatic drill 10 provided with a drillsteel 12, adapted to punch the crust above described, is mounted on acarriage 14 slidable on a drill guide 16 and moved forward and back by afeed mechanism 18, and guided by a handle 20'. The mounting is adaptedto be suspended from a hanger 22 only the lower part of the hanger beingshown it being understood that hanger 22 is movable in any well knownmanner from place to place.

Guide 16 is a composite structure consisting of the U-shaped portion 24the legs of which terminate in smooth flat surfaces 26 which with theupper legs 28 of angle members 30 form ways or slots 32 to slidablyreceive the longitudinal ribs 34 of carriage 14. Members 30 and the legsof U-shaped member 24 are serrated on their mutually contacting faces 36and 38 so that as wear takes place in slots 32 adjustment can thereby beprovided. As indicated, members 30' and 24 are tied to gether withsuitable bolts 40. At the rear end of guide 16 is provided a pair offlanged plates 42 for attachment to the feed cylinder 18 and couplingmeans or connector 94. The coupling means 94 will hereinafter bereferred to as the connector 94.

Drill carriage 14 is adapted to support drill 10 rigidly and for thispurpose is provided with ribs 44 for centralizing drill 10, and arearwardly extending plate 46 to which the rear end of drill 10 isadapted to be bolted. Pneumatic feed mechanism is provided for advancingand retracting drill 10 on guide 16. It includes a tubular cylinder 48within which is adapted to reciprocate a piston 50. Piston 50 is adaptedto reciprocate between a back head 52 screwed on cylinder 48 and thefront cylinder head 54. Being actuated pneumatically, air is admittedthrough back head 52 at a threaded aperture 56 into the rear of cylinder48 behind piston 56. In order to prevent slamming of piston 50 againstback head 52 these two parts are formed to provide the effect of adash-pot controlled cushion. For this purpose piston 50 is formed with astem portion 58 adapted to enter a small bore 60 in head 52 thus forminga cushioning chamber 62, from which the trapped air can escape only byway of a restricted passage 64 extending from chamber 62 to the tappedsupply hole 56 by way of a cross bore 66. An additional passage 68leading to chamber 62 is also provided but is provided with a ball checkvalve 70 held on its seat -by a spring 72 so that it permits air toenter chamber 62 from the supply bore 56 but escape there-from isprevented in the opposite direction. A similar dashpot effect isprovided between piston 50 and front head 54 by a skirt 74 provided onpiston 50' which slides into a space provided between front head 54 andcylinder 48 trapping air in the chamber 76 within skirt '74. The escapeof air from this chamber is restricted by a ball check valve 78controlling a port 80 leading by way of a passage 82 to the clearancebetween skirts 74 and cylinder 48.

Front head 54 is flanged as shown at 84 to abut the end of cylinder 48and abuts the plate 89. To hold feed cylinder 13 in position, cylinder48 is provided with a collar 88 which may be welded fast to the end ofcylinder 48 and terminate at substantially the same level as the end offront head 54. The back edge of collar 88 provides an abutting surfacefor the shoulder 90 formed in the en circling end of the laterallyextending handle 20 which is in this instance formed of a separate pieceas shown in FIG. 3. Shoulder 96 is formed at one end of a bore 92 inconnector 94 and encircles cylinder 48 acting as a clamping ring to holdcylinder 48 in bore 92, and at the other end, plate 89 is screwed toconnector (not shown) securing the cylinder 48. Connector 94 and drillguide 16 are connected to each other by bolts 98 passing through holes96, plate 8? and flanges 86. For the admission of air to the interior ofcylinder 48 connector 94 is provided with a tapped passage 1% leading byway of a bore 162 to the space around collar 88, and by way of ports 104in collar 88, and an additional port 196 in cylinder 48 is registrytherewithactuating pressure fluid can, enter the interior of cylinder48. Suitable O-rings 1% at either side shown in FIG. 6. Connecting rod118 and tube are Patented Oct. 15, 1963 I 3 held together by a tie rod120 which screws into piston 50 at one end and into connecting rod 118at the other end. Connecting rod 118 is provided at its forward end withan aperture 122 having a bearing bushing 124 adapted to encircle a wristpin 126 fitting in an aperture 128 formed in a boss 130 on the bottom ofcarriage 14.

The difficulty of lubricating the bearing thus formed is met by theintroduction of a small amount of the actuating pressure fluid formotivating this entire mechanism by way of a small hole 132 extendingfrom the hole 122, the entire length of connecting rod 118 and by way ofa small transverse port 134 and a slot 136 formed in the back end ofconnecting rod 118 to the space between tie rod 120 and tube 110.Adjacent the back end of tie rod 120, piston 50 is provided with a smallleak passage 139 leading to an axial hole 138 extending through piston50. In stem 58 at the end of axial hole 138 is leak passage 140 whichwill leak a small amount of pressure fluid by way of the passages abovedescribed to the bearing 124. When pressure fluid is supplied foroperating tools of this character a certain amount of lubricant isalways supplied and a small amount of lubricant which will leak with theleakage air to bearing 124 is sufiicient to take care of lubrication ofthat hearing.

The control handle consists of a tubular member 142 fitting into a bore144 in the boss 146 of control handle and connector 94 and held thereinby a linch pin 148. Member 142 extends to and joins a second tubularmember 150 being attached thereto by a plug 152, suitable pins 154 beingprovided to stabilize the connection. Tubular member 150 terminates in aguard member 156 having a downwardly extending plate 158 and a plate160' perpendicular thereto, the two being braced together by a wall 162at one end. The guard 156 protects a bar handle 164 in rectangular formof which the ends are held in member 150 by a linch pin 166. To protectagainst the heat and electric current, tubes 142 and 150 are encased ina tubular insulator 168.

The connector 94 is provided with a boss 170 having a transverse hole172 to receive a bar 174 supported from hanger 22. Bar 174 is adapted tobe received in a variety of positions with respect to hanger 22 and forthis purpose hanger 22 which is provided with a vertically supportedI-beam 176 has a number of tubes inserted transversely therein as shownat 178 into any one of which bar 174 can be placed. Inasmuch as theseare at various heights a measure of height adjustability is provided.

The lowest tube 178 is provided with a projecting bar 180 which willabut recessed portion 173 of the connector 94 to limit the swing of thedrill mounting angularly. A bent bar 182 is mounted on I-beam 176 andhas an opened portion adapted to encircle and protect the upper part offeed mechanism 18.

Compressed air or any suitable pressure fluid is introduced at thethreaded hole 100 by a pipe 186 extending parallel to cylinder 48 fittedwith suitable hose 188 leading to a source of compressed air 190. Thusair is introduced into the interior of cylinder 48 to constantly urgepiston 50 to its upper position pulling drill 10 into its retractedposition. This is opposed by air introduced at the threaded aperture 56by way of a hose 192 also connected to the source of pressure fluid 190by way of a valve 194 of any suitable description. Thus by operatingvalve 194 air will enter the upper end of cylinder 48 to shove piston 50forward inasmuch as the area exposed to air pressure from the upper sideis greater than the exposed area on the opposite face of piston 50.Simultaneously, by actuation of valve 194, compressed air will beprovided by way of pipe 196 to threaded aperture 198 adjacent thethreaded aperture 100 and connecting with a transverse threaded hole 200to which is connected a fitting and hose connection 202 leading to drill10.

For the purpose of protecting drill steel 12 a guard is provided at thefront head of guide 16 that consists of a pair of plates 204 bolted tothe side plates of drill guide '4 16. Renewable face plates 206 suitablybolted to side plates 204 are provided as these guards are subject tovery considerable abuse.

In operation when hanger 22 has been located suitably with respect tothe work to be performed the operator grasping handle 164, steers themounting to direct drill steel 12 suitably and by manipulation of valve194 ad vances drill 10 through the supply of motive fluid into cylinder48 and simultaneous operation of drill 19 by supply of motive fluid byway of pipe 196. The drilling operation is very intermittent andrequires repeated advancing of the drill 10 and retraction by way of thefeed cylinder 10. The drill steel 12 is steered by the operator whograsps the handle 164 and is protected from the intense heat by guard156. Excessive swinging of the mounting is prevented by the recessedportion 173 and bent bar 132 which limit the motion of the mounting.

Thus by the above construction are accomplished, among others, theobjects hereinbefore referred to.

We claim:

1. In combination with a pneumatic drill, a drill mounting comprising adrill guide, a pneumatic feed cylinder for the drill, a piston withinsaid cylinder, a tube extending longitudinally in said cylinder and intosaid piston, a tie rod extending axially in said tube and at one endengaging said piston, a space defined between said rod and tube, aconnecting rod engaging the pneumatic drill at one end and engaging anend of said tie rod and said tube to hold said tube in said piston,passage means within said piston and said connecting rod for conveyingpressure fluid to and from the space between said tube and said tie rod,a head for said cylinder detachably mounted on said guide, and a seal insaid head slidingly engaging said tube.

2. In combination with a pneumatic drill, a drill mounting comprising adrill guide, a pneumatic feed cylinder for the drill, a piston withinsaid cylinder, a tube extending longitudinally in said cylinder and intosaid piston, a tie rod extending axially in said tube and at one endengaging said piston, a connecting rod having a bearing for engagementwith the pneumatic drill and engaging an end of said tie rod and saidtube to hold said tube in said piston, a passage in said piston forconveying pressure fluid to the space between said tube and said tierod, a passage in said connecting rod for conveying pressure fluid fromthe space between said tube and said tie rod to said bearing, a head forsaid cylinder detachably mounted on said guide, and a seal in said headslidingly engaging said tube.

3. In combination with a pneumatic drill, a drill mounting comprising adrill guide, a pneumatic feed cylinder for the drill, a piston withinsaid cylinder, a tube extending longitudinally in said cylinder and intosaid piston, a tie rod extending axially in said tube and at one endengaging said piston, a connecting rod engaging the pneumatic drill atone end and engaging an end of said tie rod and said tube to hold saidtube in said piston, a head for said cylinder, coupling means encirclingsaid cylinder and head, a laterally extending control handle operativelyconnected to said coupling means for guiding said drill, said couplyingmeans coupling said handle, cylinder and head to said guide, and theseal in said head slidingly engaging said tube.

4. In combination with a pneumatic drill, a drill mounting comprising adrill guide, a feed cylinder for the drill, a piston within thecylinder, a tube extending longitudinally in said cylinder and into saidpiston, a tie rod extending axially in said tube and at one end engagingsaid piston, a connecting rod engaging the pneumatic drill at one endand engaging an end of said tie rod and said tube to hold said tube insaid piston, a collar at an end of said cylinder, a head for saidcylinder, a connector encircling said cylinder, said head and saidcollar, a laterally extending control handle connected to said connectorfor guiding said drill, said connector coupling said handle, cylinderand head to said guide, and a seal in said head slidingly engaging saidtube.

5. A mounting for a pneumatic drill as set forth in claim 4 in whichsaid connector is provided with ports for connection with a source ofpressure fluid, said cylinder is ported and is connected to saidconnector through said collar for conducting pressure fluid from saidconnector ports to the cylinder interior.

6. A mounting for a pneumatic drill as set forth in claim 5 in which theend of said cylinder adjacent said 1 guide is in constant communicationwith such source of pressure fluid.

5 the cylinder to retract said drill.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,336,930 Stage Apr. 13, 1920 1,980,256 Curtis Nov. 13, 19-34 2,078,780Slater Apr. 27, 1937 2,787,250 Feucht et a1. Apr. 2, 1957

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PNEUMATIC DRILL, A DRILL MOUNTING COMPRISING ADRILL GUIDE, A PNEUMATIC FEED CYLINDER FOR THE DRILL, A PISTON WITHINSAID CYLINDER, A TUBE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID CYLINDER AND INTOSAID PISTON, A TIE ROD EXTENDING AXIALLY IN SAID TUBE AND AT ONE ENDENGAGING SAID PISTON, A SPACE DEFINED BETWEEN SAID ROD AND TUBE, ACONNECTING ROD ENAGING THE PNEUMATIC DRILL AT ONE END AND ENGAGING ANEND OF SAID TIE ROD AND SAID TUBE TO HOLD SAID TUBE IN SAID PISTON,PASSAGE MEANS WITHIN SAID PISTON AND SAID CONNECTING ROD FOR CONVEYINGPRESSURE FLUID TO AND FROM THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID TUBE AND SAID TIE ROD,A HEAD FOR SAID CYLINDER DETACHABLY MOUNTED ON SAID GUIDE, AND A SEAL INSAID HEAD SLIDINGLY ENGAGING SAID TUBE.